My online bank now pays 1.5% which isn’t great for an investment but is good for savings accounts.

Many REO's have an online system to submit offers that go directly to the asset manager making the decision, and the REO agent, is acting as more of a property manager.

Definitely striving for ethical business practices!!

Also, find out if your city has code violations and eviction data online or otherwise available.

Aside from Biggerpockets (which is a great online resource no doubts there!)

To follow this plan will require some self-discipline practiced daily, especially if this mindset doesn’t come naturally.

We track the foreclosure in the county's online court records system.

Even if you hired a designer as well you’d still save money versus paying the $50,000 .Searching listings online for homes that have sold as flips and see what kind of design they use or go to open houses of flipped homes .

If you got into an owner-occupied multi family you would have an investment property purchased for nothing or practically nothing and would be living for free and ideally cash flowing.

It is not unheard of, but I'd imagine it to be a bad business practice not to allow flexibility if it spoils the deal. 2% buyers commissions in my area are very rare. most are 2.5-3% sometimes subtracting a small transaction fee (something else that is odd to some and common to others).